Complication Rates in Kenya

International Family Planning Perspectives Recent evidence that the risk of female-tomale HIV transmission is reduced among men who have been circumcised has led to suggestions that circumcision programs could become a key component of anti-HIV efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, findings from a pair of recent studies highlight some of the obstacles that large-scale circumcision programswould need to overcome. According to a prospective study conducted in Kenya, 35%of youngmen circumcised by traditional providers and 18% of those circumcised by medical providers experience complications after the procedure, suggesting that extensive training and resources will be needed if circumcision services are to be substantially expanded in developing nations.1 The second study found that circumcising all HIVnegativemen in Sub-Saharan Africa would be far less cost-effective than distributing free condoms tomenwho need them.2 For example, on average, preventing oneHIV infection via circumcision would cost an estimated $5,845—more than 100 times the cost of preventing a single infection with condoms.